Drew Brees ended his career after 20 seasons in the NFL, the last 15 of which with the New Orleans Saints. 13 times Pro Bowler, a former Super Bowl champion and holder of a perennial record, the 42-year-old quarterback announced on Sunday that he played against competitive football. Brees announced his retirement on the 15th anniversary of his signing with Saints.
While many assumed that the defeat of the Saints to the Buccaneers in the divisional playoff round was the final game of their career, Brees waited another two months before officially announcing his retirement. Brees announced his retirement through a post on his Instagram account.
The post included a video of their children celebrating the news.
“After 20 years as an NFL player and 15 years as a Saint, it is time to retire from football.
“Every day, I poured out my heart and soul to be his defender. Until the end, I got tired of giving everything I had for the organization of the Saints, my team and the great city of New Orleans. We shared a few moments confused together, many of which are etched in our hearts and minds and will forever be a part of us. You have shaped me, strengthened me, inspired me and given me a life of memories. My goal in the last 15 years has been to strive to give everything you gave me and more.
“I’m just retiring from football, I’m not retiring from New Orleans. This is not goodbye, it is a new beginning. A new job in my real life begins!”
Brees alluded to the possibility of retiring after the January playoff loss to Tampa Bay. The loss marked the fourth consecutive playoff loss to Santos and the third consecutive playoff loss at home.
“I have always tried to play this game with great respect and reverence for him,” Brees told reporters after the defeat. “I appreciate everything that this game has given me. Obviously, there are so many incredible memories, so many incredible relationships that have arisen as a result of playing this game. And you find out a lot about yourself and you have to fight a lot when you play this game. And I I would say that this season, I probably had to fight more than I have ever had in any other season in my career, from injuries to all things in COVID and crazy circumstances. (But) it was worth every moment. “
Brees leaves the NFL as one of the biggest beacons in the league’s history. A second-round pick from the San Diego Chargers in 2001, the Purdue product turns off football boots as the all-time leader of the NFL in career pass yards, completions and completion percentage, not to mention five All-Pro distinctions, two Players offensive of the year and the Super Bowl XLIV MVP.
“When I was hired by Saints as head coach in 2006, the first goal was to establish a functional and winning culture,” wrote Saints coach Sean Payton in a statement, via Nick Underhill. “In doing so, it was vital to know what we were looking for in a player, talent, work ethic, makeup, intelligence and leadership are qualities that we find in Drew Brees. We also found a player with a burning desire to win. In a year, he helped lead our team to the club’s first appearance in the NFC championship.
“Throughout his career, his consistency, dedication and excellence have been unmatched. In a very short period of time, he would help to lead a region for recovery and a team for the Super Bowl championship. He was a magnificent leader within and off the field His attention to detail and competitive spirit were contagious. For all of us who had the chance to train him, it was our privilege, we are better for that.
“I am forever grateful for what you have done for our team, our community and for me personally.”
Brees shone with the Chargers during the first five seasons of his career, peaking in 2004 with a campaign of 27 touchdowns to help San Diego finish 12-4. He will be best remembered, however, for redefining his legacy in New Orleans, which hired him in 2006 after a season lost to a torn labrum and had 15 years of QB production arguably the most stable in the entire NFL. From 2006-2018, Brees lost just two games to the Saints, seven times leading the league in passing yards, five times over the 5,000 yard mark and 10 times throwing at least 30 touchdowns.
Injuries have hurt Brees during his last two seasons with New Orleans, as the veteran lost five games in 2019 and another four in 2020, but his numbers almost never dropped from the time he debuted with the Saints until the time he said goodbye to the superdome. In nine of his 12 final NFL seasons, Brees posted a passer rating above 100, recording a career record of 116.3 in 2019. He was undoubtedly the main reason for New Orleans’s post-season consistency under the coach Sean Payton, helping guide the Saints to nine different playoff appearances and captained the franchise to their first Super Bowl victory in 2009, defeating Peyton Manning and the Colts.